Led by the Veterans Alumni Association of Allegheny County, veterans from all across Pennsylvania have joined forces in “Veterans for Wagner” to endorse Auditor General Jack Wagner for Governor.

Read the full press release here.

These individuals recognize Jack’s career-long efforts as a top advocate for veterans and veterans’ issues. The new group joins “Students for Wagner” and “Women for Wagner” in supporting Wagner as the best prepared candidate to lead Pennsylvania through these challenging times.

I am humbly grateful for the overwhelming show of support by my fellow veterans, Wagner said. Pennsylvania has 1.3 million veterans who have put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms of our great nation and Commonwealth. The next Governor has a clear responsibility to fight for these brave men and women. I have fought for them throughout my career and I will fight for them even harder as Governor.

In addition to the Veterans Alumni Association of Allegheny County, “Veterans for Wagner” includes:

• Robert Abbott, Catholic War Vets (Allegheny County)
• Dan Blissman, U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran (Westmoreland County)
• Bob Boland (Lackawanna County)
• James Bruder, U.S. Navy Club Chaplain (Allegheny County)
• Greg Daley (Allegheny County)
• Ron Demicheli (Allegheny County)
• Joseph DeVito (Forest County)
• Bill Dilla (Crawford County)
• Hal Donahue, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Ret. (Lackawanna County)
• Michael Dunn, M.D., Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Ret. and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh (Cambria County)
• Glenn Embree, U.S. Navy, Plumbers and Pipefitters Union (Westmoreland County)
• Richard Fallon, Former spokesman POW/MIA Association (Allegheny County)
• Jack Flaherty (Allegheny County)
• Mike Hall, American Legion Post 358 Commander (Delaware County)
• Floyd Johnson, Jr. (Allegheny County)
• Frank Lopes (Allegheny County)
• Moe Mahoney, U.S. Navy (Allegheny County)
• Seamus Maloney (Allegheny County)
• Dave Mankamyer, U.S. Army Sergeant, environmental consultant, and former County Commissioner (Somerset County)
• Anthony Marceca (Dauphin County)
• John May, U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran (Allegheny County)
• Ed McDonald, former All-American Commander of VFW Post, Sayre (Bradford County)
• James Mullen, U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran (Allegheny County)
• Bob Myers, Northwest Veterans Coalition (Venango County)
• Bernie Paisano (Allegheny County)
• Tom Petrone, Former Pennsylvania State Representative (Allegheny County)
• Rocco Polidoro, American Legion Post Commander, Springfield (Delaware County)
• Richard Portis, Robert Morris University Small Business Project Director (Allegheny County)
• William Sargent (Allegheny County)
• Thomas Scholler, Jr., Former Adjutant, Belleview VFW Post 2454 (Allegheny County)
• Ed Sheehan, Catholic War Vets (Allegheny County)
• Wayne Vlasic, Monessen City Controller (Westmoreland County)
• Ray Webb, Veterans Alumni Association (Allegheny County)

“I am a Desert Storm veteran and military physician with 39 years of service,” said Michael Dunn, M.D., Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Ret. and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh (Cambria County). “I have known Jack Wagner over the five years that I have lived in Pennsylvania since leaving active duty, and I respect him for his strong commitment to the support of Pennsylvania’s large population of combat veterans. Jack has the heart, values, and energy that make him stand out as our strongest candidate for Governor. He has my vote and strong support.”

“Jack is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran, and a man who keeps his word and stands ready to move us forward,” said Jim White, Chair of the Veterans Alumni Association of Allegheny County. “Simply look at his record as Auditor General, the watchdog for our taxpayers’ dollars. He is a real leader who has been able to turn up the heat in Harrisburg to attack waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending. His actions are safety first, and at this turning point of our Commonwealth’s history, we need a man who knows how to walk the ‘point,’ read a compass, and keep his bearings. Jack is someone who measures twice and cuts once.”

“Simply put, Jack Wagner is a great person, and he’s a great candidate,” said Richard Fallon, former spokesman POW/MIA Association (Allegheny County).

“I am supporting Jack because he is a decorated veteran who demonstrated character under fire in combat. He literally bled for this country in war, earning the Purple Heart,” said Bob Myers, Northwest Veterans Coalition (Venango County). “His common sense approach to running state government coupled with reform and fiscal responsibility makes him a winner in my book.”

“Jack has always there for our veterans. And he has always been there for their families, too,” said Hal Donahue, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Ret. (Lackawanna County)

“I have known Jack as a public servant for years, and I believe in his commitment to developing Pennsylvania’s tremendous wealth of natural resources in an environmentally responsible way while learning from our mistakes of the past,” said Dave Mankamyer, U.S. Army Sergeant, environmental consultant, and former County Commissioner (Somerset County). “Knowing that Jack is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran reinforces my opinion that there is no special interest that he will not take on when it is the public’s interest that is at stake.”